Alek straightened her shoulders proudly. "It was so easy. All it takes to fool people around here are some forged doc.u.ments and a smile. That is why we chose this state. Too many foreigners in New York and California. They tend to be more suspicious. We needed a shipping port in a ... more naive state."

"I take it your last name isn't Jones. Ivanovich suits you much better. Though Stalin might be more appropriate," Ashley murmured through trembling lips.

"No, my name is not Jones." Alek seemed surprised to hear Ashley speak. "I have never married. Like I told you at dinner, I am not interested in such things. I take lovers when it suits me, but they are insignificant. Now, it is time for me to return to Russia and live off the fruit of our labors for a while. First, I will kill you, and then I will pack." Her finger stroked the trigger, but a knock on the door interrupted her. "It's taken you long enough to get here! Come in at once!" she barked and then gestured at the two sisters when the newcomer entered. "I believe you already know my friends."

Cooper's mouth hung open in disbelief as Edward Crosby slipped into the room, leaving the door slightly ajar behind him. He stood right next to Alek, surveying the situation calmly. He then gave Alek a slight but subservient nod and apologized to her for his tardiness.

"I'm sorry to see you here, ladies," he stated flatly and removed a revolver from the pocket of his black leather jacket. He held the gun in his left hand and his motorcycle helmet in his right.

"You weren't at the auction to sell your bike!" Tears spilled from Cooper's eyes, but the pain of Edward's betrayal was overshadowed by the anger bubbling inside of her. "You're a lying sc.u.mbag! Didn't you learn anything anything about honor after your father was killed? He'd be so ashamed of you right now." about honor after your father was killed? He'd be so ashamed of you right now."

"Good thing he's dead then, huh?" Edward replied flatly. He chuckled and Alek joined in, her gun jerking up and down in her hand as she lost herself to a moment of unaccustomed laughter. It was as though the sound were emanating from below the earth, like an animal rising from a dry, dark burrow.

Cooper grabbed the stapler and stood, taking both Alek and Edward by surprise as she hurled it through the air. It struck Edward on the forehead and he dropped the gun. As Alek turned to look at her partner or subordinate or lover-Cooper didn't care what he was at the moment-she shouted at her sister, "RUN, ASHLEY!"

Time slowed as Cooper's words floated through the air. Ashley, white-faced and paralyzed with fear, did not react with the speed necessary to take advantage of the diversion Cooper had created. Her sister's terrified glances darted from the door, to the duo wielding guns, and back to Cooper.

"GO NOW!" Cooper bellowed angrily and Ashley started finally moving toward the exit and hopefully, to safety.

But Alek recovered quickly. She turned her shoulders in order to point the gun at Ashley, but even as she pivoted, Cooper was flinging the clock, calendar, and binder at the female a.s.sailant's face. Instinctively, Alek raised her arms to fend off the a.s.sault of office supplies and, with Edward preoccupied by wiping blood away from his eyes, Ashley was able to make it to the doorway.

That was as far as she got, however, before Cooper ran out of things to throw. All of the action had taken place in a matter of seconds, and those precious measures of time had not been sufficient to allow Ashley to escape. Alek raised her gun and as Cooper yelled, "NO!" her heart rent by fear for her sister, Edward moved.

In a flash, the arm holding the motorcycle helmet pulled back and then rammed into Alek's gun hand with enough force to knock the weapon loose. But not before it discharged.

The gun went off with a roar. Ashley screamed. Cooper lunged forward, straining to see if her sister was hurt, but Alek's body obscured her view. The finance manager recovered quickly and leapt for her gun, which had come to rest at the base of one of the file cabinets.

Her arm stretched forth to wrap around the grip, but Cooper launched herself upon her enemy as though she was a running back diving into the end zone. She and Alek grabbed the gun simultaneously and the two women began to wrestle for control of the pistol.

Cooper was stunned by the other woman's strength. Alek pulled at the gun and tried to roll away from Cooper, but as she shifted her weight to her left shoulder, Cooper followed the movement exactly, her fingers closing over Alek's as two pairs of arms pointed in the direction of the door. The combined pressure of their fingers released the gun's hammer.

The report of the shot stunned the two women for several seconds, but Alek recovered first, and, taking advantage of Cooper's hesitation, broke free with the weapon in her hand.

"FREEZE!" a deep voice barked from the doorway.

Alek and Cooper both turned. Rich Johnson stood in the threshold, wearing a Kevlar vest and a ferocious glare. "Put the gun down, Aleksandra Ivanovich. It's over."

Cooper's gaze traveled from the policeman to the supine figure on the floor. Edward lay with his face turned toward the ceiling. His skin was glistening with sweat and his breathing was labored. As Cooper rose to her knees, she looked at the carpet and cried, "No!"

Blood was seeping from beneath Edward's body, forming a dark, crimson stain in the gray carpet.

"Drop it now or I shoot!" Rich repeated, easing into the room and lifting the gun so that it was parallel with Alek's chest.

Alek locked eyes with the officer and smiled. "You cannot win." The gun fell with a m.u.f.fled thud on the carpet. "My lawyers won't let you hold me."

Cooper watched just long enough to witness the policeman kick the gun out of Alek's reach. He pinned her against the wall and fastened a pair of handcuffs on her wrists using adept movements, reciting her rights in an even, professional tone. Alek began to writhe in anger, her shoulders and arms twisting as though she had the strength to escape her bonds. When it was clear that she couldn't get free, she began to mock Rich Johnson by listing all the charges her brother had escaped in the past, extolling the craftiness of her family's legal team, and cataloguing the deficiencies of Richmond's police force. Her voice rose as she spoke, until she was spitting and hissing like a feral cat.

Officer Johnson did not speak a word beyond the Miranda. He gently pushed Alek into the hallway and only then focused his attention on Edward.

"Looks like the bullet went through his lung," he said as he listened to Edward's rasping. "He's losing too much blood. Put pressure on the wound while I call for help."

Cooper shed her coat and scarf. She gently lifted Edward's shoulder from the floor, though her emotions were in turmoil. How long has he known the Ivanovich siblings? Did he work for them before he went to jail? Does he still? How long has he known the Ivanovich siblings? Did he work for them before he went to jail? Does he still?

"Whose side were you on?" she whispered angrily to Edward while her tears fell. She balled up her scarf and pressed it against the leaking wound with one hand and used the other to slide her coat under his head.

His eyelids flickered, opened. He fixed his gaze on her face. "I'm on your side," he whispered, the words gurgled and slurred.

Fear washed over Cooper. "Don't talk. Help is coming." She placed her palm on his forehead. "Hang in there."

Edward winced, battling with the pain and the supreme effort to draw in breath. "Just in case," he said so softly that Cooper had to put her ear closer to his lips in order to hear him. "Will you say a prayer for me?"

"Of course," Cooper answered and moved the hand touching his face over his heart. She closed her eyes, forcing more tears out. "Heavenly Father, I lift up this man to your care." A calmness flowed into her body as the words welled inside of her. "Lend him Your unsurpa.s.sed strength, Lord. He has fought so hard to make the right choices. Please give him the chance to witness how powerful goodness feels." She sniffed. "Allow him the time to continue growing. Please, G.o.d. I know he longs to serve You. Give him the chance to do that. You are ever loving, ever merciful. Hear my prayer." She opened her eyes. Edward was alive, but unconscious. "Hear my prayer," Cooper repeated until the sound of footsteps running down the hall made her raise her head again.

"Step away, miss," a bearded paramedic ordered firmly as he removed a long needle and a valve from his case. He tugged Edward's shirt until the bare skin of his chest was exposed, located the two ribs he was searching for, and plunged the needle into Edward's flesh. A hiss of air rushed out. The second paramedic, a pretty young woman, finished intubating the patient. She fastened a breathing mask on Edward's face and then signaled to her partner. Together, they slid him onto a board and then hoisted him onto the gurney.

Rich Johnson reappeared as the paramedics positioned themselves to wheel the gurney out of the room. "Is he going to make it?" he asked.

"We've seen worse," the female paramedic replied, brushing past him. "But he needs blood. We only carry saline."

Cooper stepped after them, not wanting to lose sight of Edward. "Where's my sister?" she demanded without turning to the police officer.

"In her husband's office. She's shaken, but uninjured. Luckily, the stray bullet hit the wall several feet away." The policeman took her arm as they hustled toward the outer door. "Are you hurt?"

"No." Cooper's fear rapidly morphed to anger. "But I am am confused! How long has Edward been playing both sides? And exactly confused! How long has Edward been playing both sides? And exactly how long how long were you out in that hall while Alek was getting good and ready to kill us?" were you out in that hall while Alek was getting good and ready to kill us?"

Rich waited for the paramedics to load Edward into the ambulance and shut both doors before answering. "Not long enough to hear what sounded like a full confession, unfortunately. Please understand, Ms. Lee, I only hesitated until I knew what was going on inside that room. Despite what one sees on television, the police don't routinely burst into every s.p.a.ce with weapons drawn. We're actually more cautious than that." He looked pained over not having appeared sooner. "Be comforted by the fact the we've got enough evidence to nail the Ivanovich siblings and shut down their smuggling ring for good. Of course, there'll be half a dozen federal agencies involved, but Albion will not not slip through the bars of his holding cell this time. He'll be wearing an orange jumpsuit before the ice melts." slip through the bars of his holding cell this time. He'll be wearing an orange jumpsuit before the ice melts."

As the ambulance pulled away, sirens wailing, Cooper rounded on Johnson. "Why didn't Edward fire his gun?"

"He's not allowed to carry a loaded weapon," the officer answered sheepishly. "Convicted felons cannot own, possess, or transport a firearm."

"So you used him, too," Cooper stated, her anger seeping away as fatigue set in.

"Mr. Crosby wanted to be involved. Against my better judgment, I agreed." Johnson removed his coat and slung it around Cooper's shoulders. "I believe in redemption, Ms. Lee, and that is why I agreed to incorporate him into this investigation. Now," he resumed his authoritative tone. "You've experienced quite a shock. Come inside and join your sister."

Nodding numbly, she did as he suggested. Seeing Ashley seated primly in Lincoln's office triggered the tears again, and the two sisters embraced. Neither one would let go. Eventually, they both broke into a stream of anxious murmuring, repeatedly checking to ensure that the other was truly unharmed. When they finally separated, the sisters gratefully accepted steaming cups of coffee from an ogling salesmen.

"Lincoln will be here any minute," Ashley said in a surprisingly steady voice. "You were so brave!" She reached over and squeezed Cooper's hand. "You saved me! I feel so so guilty about running away." guilty about running away."

"Don't," Cooper scolded her. "You wanted to live. You wanted your baby to live. There's no shame in that."

Ashley placed a hand on her flat belly. "Wait until he hears about this story when he's older."

"Or she," Cooper said with a smile.

"Could you imagine?" Ashley giggled. "Poor Daddy! Four generations of girls!"

Just then Lincoln rushed into the office. He gathered Ashley into his arms and covered her face with kisses. "My darling," he murmured. "Oh, I should have known known something was wrong with something was wrong with her her. I should have been with you! Are you okay?" He pushed her away in order to look her over and then pulled her against his chest again.

"I'm fine, sugar. We're just a bit shaken, that's all." She smiled rea.s.suringly at her husband, even though her hands trembled. "My sister saved my life."

Lincoln turned to Cooper. She had been too tired to move and remained seated in the stiff-backed office chair. He fell to his knees and, taking her hand in his, kissed it gallantly. "G.o.d bless you!" he whispered with a catch in his voice.

Made slightly uncomfortable by the dramatic gesture, Cooper withdrew her hand. Smiling tenderly at her brother-in-law, she said, "I believe He already has."

19.

"Because he takes note of their deeds, he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.

He punishes them for their wickedness where everyone can see them."

Job 34:25-26 (NIV) Rich Johnson pulled up to the front door of the police station to let Cooper out. She'd been too shaken to drive her own truck, and the policeman was eager to acquire her statement while events were fresh in her mind. Ashley had insisted that she was well enough to give her statement as well, so a reluctant Lincoln had chauffeured her to the station.

"But the second you're done, it's straight home with you. I'm ordering in and you're going to lie down on the sofa and rest. No more excitement for you for the next eight months, do you hear me?" He practically carried her to the car.

Cooper was so tired, cold, and hungry that she barely noticed Nathan waiting for her in the station's lobby. Looking dashing in a navy blue overcoat and a plaid scarf, he set down the brown bag he was carrying and scooped Cooper off her feet, kissing her all over. She wrapped her arms around him and her lips found his. She finally felt safe.

"It's a good thing Batman's parking the car!" Cooper laughed and rested her head against Nathan's chest. "He might arrest us for public display of groping."

Nathan didn't smile. "I should have been at your side today. I just didn't think a trip to the car auction would end with someone pointing a gun at you!"

"How did you find out what happened so quickly?" Cooper asked quizzically.

"Ashley called me from Lincoln's office. She heard the cops say you'd both need to come down here and I figured you could use a shoulder to lean on." He pointed at the brown bag. "I brought you some food, too. I figured cream of chicken and wild rice soup, a b.u.t.tered roll, and a cup of hot coffee would give you the strength you'd need to make it through this interview."

Prying open the bag, Cooper almost cried when she smelled the soup and felt the warmth of the coffee cup seep into her palms. "I don't think I've ever loved you as much as I do right now!" She kissed him again and he slipped his arm around her waist.

At that moment, the figure behind them developed a serious throat tickle. "A-hem! Ms. Lee?" Investigator McNamara glowered. "Here I was, thinking we'd made such progress during our little chat in the Kroger parking lot. Yet, once again, you've stepped into the line of fire."

Cooper's neck flushed. "I don't think I compromised anything, sir. In fact, you'll have plenty of evidence to put Aleksandra Ivanovich away and hopefully Albion, too."

"We'll see." McNamara sighed. "I'm going to conduct your interview. 'Batman' has bigger fish to fry." One side of his mouth stretched into the beginnings of a smile, but then was quickly brought into line. He eyed Nathan. "You may join Ms. Lee if you'd like. I can see that it may require some kind of specialized tool to separate the pair of you, and the lobby vending machines are fresh out of crowbars. Candy bars and coffee we've got." He looked back and forth between Nathan and Cooper. "Would you care for some refreshment before we begin?"

"I'm all set, thank you." Cooper showed him the coffee cup in her hand.

McNamara gave it a longing glance. "Ah, the good stuff. I'm trying to cut back a little, so it'll have to be water for me." His eyes flicked toward the lobby doors. "Let's get started. I hear this layer of ice is going to be covered by nearly a foot of snow in the next few hours. You need to be off the roads by dark."

In the stark interview room, McNamara kindly fiddled with paperwork, the recording device, and the thermostat in order to allow Cooper a few swallows of soup before she had to start talking. When her bowl was half-empty, he looked at her expectantly and touched a b.u.t.ton on the recorder. He stated his name and rank as Cooper sipped her coffee. He then uncapped his pen and his expression became one of fixed concentration.

It took nearly two hours for Cooper to complete her statement because McNamara painstakingly dissected and reviewed every word she said. When he asked her to repeat her exchanges with Alek in the file room for the third time, she lost her temper.

"I've told you twice! She sends the cars to Russia to be sold, probably by her brothers who own a dealership there, and China White gets imported to the States in return."

"Through Double A Auto?" McNamara ignored Cooper's outburst and tapped his chin with the top of his pen. "The heroin is inside the cars sent from Russia?"

Cooper thought hard. "Alek never clarified that point. I don't know how the drugs get into the country, but Norfolk's a major shipping port and that's where Double A is located, so I'd guess that's what happens, but she didn't spell that out." Cooper sighed, weary to the core. "Alek said they used Double A to train people like Maria and Miguel. She didn't mention where the drugs were hidden."

McNamara made a notation on his legal pad. "Let's go through the sequence in which Ms. Ivanovich's firearm was discharged."

Cooper closed her eyes for a moment. She was so tired that her thoughts were growing muddled. "I can't," she whispered and suddenly all she could see was the blood leaking out from Edward. She stared at her hands, but the vision before her was the stain spreading across the carpet and the sticky, red circle pooling beneath Edward's shoulder. She pointed at the recorder, her lips trembling as she tried to control her voice. "Turn that off. Please Please."

Complying, McNamara touched the machine. He dug a tissue from his pocket, pa.s.sed it to Cooper without staring directly at her face, and then bent to study his notes.

"Now I I want to know something." Cooper was hoa.r.s.e from talking. Her coffee cup was empty and though she was no longer hungry, the food had only served to amplify her fatigue. "What was Edward's role in all this?" want to know something." Cooper was hoa.r.s.e from talking. Her coffee cup was empty and though she was no longer hungry, the food had only served to amplify her fatigue. "What was Edward's role in all this?"

"He's been an informant for several months now. Edward made contact with Johnson while serving the tail end of his sentence." McNamara capped his pen and laid it down. "I don't know the details, but I believe Mr. Crosby had a profound experience toward the end of his stay at Jail West." He smiled slightly. " 'After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied.' "

"Is that a Psalm?" Nathan asked.

"Isaiah," McNamara said. "Edward knows much about the illegal drug trade in this city and he proved to be an invaluable a.s.set. But to be of any help, he had to keep a hand in the pie. His cab has been quite handy in recording conversations and capturing the faces of some the city's most prolific dealers on film. Richmond's specialized drug task force has been working to bust Albion Ivanovich since Edward's release."

"But how did Edward know that I'd have a flat tire the night my sister found Miguel in her garage?" Cooper rubbed her eyes. "Why follow me? I don't know anything about the drug trade."

McNamara shifted in his seat. "I am of the opinion that Mr. Crosby became an informant to impress you. I believe he's been looking for a chance to repay you for giving him the courage and the confidence to change his life. In short, he was following you that night and was thrilled to be there to help you."

Cooper flushed. "Well, if he wanted to do something wonderful for me, he's certainly accomplished that. By hitting Alek with his motorcycle helmet, he saved Ashley's life." She frowned. "Won't Edward be in terrible danger now? If he testifies against the Ivanovich siblings, everyone will know he's been leading a double life."

"After the trial, he'll leave the city. We'll be keeping him in a safe house until then." McNamara stood. "Edward's in surgery now and I've been told the outcome looks good. I'm going to head over to the hospital as soon as I file my report." He eyed his water cup with disappointment. "I'd be glad to call you later with a status update."

"Do you have enough?" Cooper inquired as Nathan held out her coat. "To put those creeps away?"

McNamara held out his open palms. "The case against Aleksandra is strong. Even though she tried to eliminate the people who posed a threat to her profits, she's left a paper trail. Without the testimonies of Maria Gutierrez and Nina Vargas, however, the case still has cracks."

"Because Nina was the crooked DMV employee," Cooper surmised. "She was integral in keeping the scam a secret."

"Correct." McNamara absently rubbed the stubble on his chin. "She turned a blind eye to any questionable t.i.tles coming from Love Motors and made sure the t.i.tles were sent to the lien holders exactly as Maria entered them into her database."

Nathan shook his head and said, "Two families of criminals. Maria paid a serious price for her duplicity, and, from what Cooper told me, it sounds like she's gone into hiding for the rest of her days. Probably in another country." He put a protective arm around Cooper and gave McNamara a hard look. "I need to know, sir ... is there any threat to Cooper's safety?"

"There's little danger of repercussion. Albion will be in custody within the hour, and this time, I suspect he won't be let out on bail." McNamara shook his head. "Even if he was set free until the trial, he'll behave like a Boy Scout until the verdict comes in. Those theatrics, several sizable donations to the campaign funds of certain lower-level politicians, as well as a minor detail called insufficient evidence, have helped Mr. Ivanovich avoid any real jail time thus far." His eyes grew dark and the policeman clenched his jaw and jabbed the metal table with his index finger. "But it ends now now. Either his sister sings or he loses honor for letting her take the fall for him. A loss of face isn't good for business. His days of lording over this city are done."

Cooper thought about the various government agencies who might be involved in an international smuggling ring. "I hope justice doesn't get buried under a mound of red tape."

McNamara chuckled and opened the door for her and Nathan. "You just pinpointed my greatest fear as an officer of the law. I'm not afraid of being shot or of being killed in the line of duty. Just keep me away from the d.a.m.ned paperwork so I can do my job." He walked swiftly toward the lobby, the sound of his heavy boots echoing down the s.p.a.cious hall. When they reached the set of double doors leading to the outside, he turned to Nathan. "I wish you and this young lady would join a bowling league or a supper club. If you two became overloaded with hobbies, I might not run into her at any more crime scenes."

Affronted by the suggestion, Cooper opened her mouth to reply when McNamara said, "I say this with the deepest respect: Why not devote your extra time and talent to volunteering? Become a Big Sister perhaps? Who knows? If Albion Ivanovich or Hector Gutierrez or Miguel Ramos had had someone to look up to, perhaps they'd have a chosen a better future for themselves."

"I don't think it's that simple," Cooper responded.

"Neither do I." The policeman smiled sadly. "But I'd like you to go home now and stay out of trouble." He gave her a fatherly pat on the back and then marched back down the hall.

"Come on." Nathan pulled her close as they stepped into the falling snow. "I'm going to run you the hottest bubble bath you've ever had in your life."